Now, drive your car at 70 kmph on urban Indian roads

This is the first time that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has set speed limits for different types of roads. Earlier, the practice was to just set the national maximum speed limit for different categories of vehicles.

Representational image&nbsp | &nbspPhoto Credit:&nbspBCCL

New Delhi: The Union government has given the green signal to increase maximum speed limit on urban roads to 70 kilometre per hour (kmph). The Times of India reported on Thursday that as per the proposal cleared by the Centre, cars can drive at a maximum speed limit of 70 kmph, while cargo carriers can drive at maximum 60 kpmh. For two-wheelers, the maximum speed limit has been set at 50 kmph. Further, the Centre has authorised the state governments or local authorities to reduce these speed limits taking into account the safety of other road users in specific areas.

This is the first time that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has set speed limits for different types of roads. Earlier, the practice was to just set the national maximum speed limit for different categories of vehicles.

In the current scenario, maximum urban speed limits as specified by local authorities are in the range of 40-60 kmph.

With road infrastructure improving, especiall in urban areas, and the number of ring roads and major arterial stretches growing, a need was felt to set speed limits for different types of roads as well.

The proposal cleared by the Ministry under Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday has set speed limits for all types of vehicles on four categories of roads.

However, the move comes at a time when societies around the globe have been demanding lower speed limits in order to reduce road fatalities. In fact, speeding was highlighted as the prime reason behind road deaths in India – it claimed 74,000 lives in 2016.

Now, drive your car at 70 kmph on urban Indian roadsDescription:This is the first time that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has set speed limits for different types of roads. Earlier, the practice was to just set the national maximum speed limit for different categories of vehicles.Times Now